updated 10:35 pm EST, Wed December 10, 2008

No Zune Phone at CES

Despite some expectations, Microsoft has no plans to introduce a Zune-branded phone at the Consumer Electronics Show next month, the company's Zune Group Manager Brian Seitz tellsGizmodo. The statement comes in part as a response to claims of a major Zune refresh that would represent or precede an actual phone; in either situation, the device was to be codenamed "Pink" and was widely expected to use a touchscreen and a fast image processor.

Instead, any phone-related news from Microsoft at CES is believed to relate to software rather than hardware. Long-time Microsoft observer Mary Jo Foley adds that "Pink" is generally understood to represent a group of services for Windows Mobile that will most likely include a Zune-like component for media playback. A companion suite for business communication is potentially coming under a "Rouge" codename.

Microsoft has repeatedly denied any development of a Zune phone and has implied an emphasis on rejuvenating Windows Mobile under its current business strategy, which licenses the mobile operating system out to third parties. Observers have warned that an in-house Microsoft phone would potentially alienate partners that would suddenly be forced to compete against the company that provides their software.

Microsoft is notorious for starting grandiose, highly-spinned projects only to see them become delayed repeatedly due to poor project management and over-promised features that befuddled the developers.

I expect the ZunePhone will ship with VistaMobile Zune Edition with Service Pack 2, this would make the thing a barrel of laughs and show the REAL value of Microsoft's stock. Release date 2010' ... ish ... The zunephone will surely revolutionize the tech industry...

Right. Might be due to the fact they aren't even working on a phone. Or, like Apple, they have an internal project looking at it, but aren't planning on doing anything until it's super-duper-great!

Microsoft is notorious for starting grandiose, highly-spinned projects only to see them become delayed repeatedly due to poor project management and over-promised features that befuddled the developers.

Um, the only problem here that I see is that, based on the article, MS has never once announced a phone product, never even conceding that they were working on a product.

So what we have is a press that is notorious for spinning up stories about unannounced expected products, only to then announce to the stunned masses that said product isn't going to be released, thus pushing more articles of "What's the delay to the product we say they're making".

They do it all the time with Apple. How long have we heard of various Apple products (mac tablet, net books, OS X on PCs, etc) that have yet to materialize, or even be acknowledged by Apple, yet everyone just assumes the story must be right, and that Apple is s******* with the user base by not releasing it?

Sept. 2007"Microsoft Corp. said on Tuesday that it is "not unreasonable" for the company to introduce a mobile phone combined with features of its Zune digital music player to compete with Apple Inc.'s iPhone... At the time it introduced the Zune last year, the company said a Zune phone was definitely part of its future plans."

Wow, who knew that saying "It's part of our plans" is considered an announcement.

A lot of things are part of 'plans'. But there's a lot between planning and implementation that throws plans out the window. Just ask Apple how many 'plans' they have had have been tossed (oh, never mind, they don't discuss unannounced products).

Then again, MS mentioned making a phone before Apple did, so maybe Apple was copying MS!